Pallet or skid for handling materials and adapted for use with lifting trucks



D. H. BITNEY PALLET 0R SKID FOR HANDLING MATERIALS AND ADAPTED Aug. 14,1951 FOR USE WITH LIFTING TRUCKS Filed June 5, 1947 INVENTOR. Dewe/ /7.517027 BY @W Q ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 14, 1951 PALLET OR SKID FORHANDLING MATE- RIALS AND ADAPTED FOR USE WITH LIFTING TRUCKS Dewey H.Bitney, Albion, Mich., assignor to Union Steel Products Company, Albion,Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application June 5, 1947, Serial No.752,749

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in pallet or skid handlingmaterials and adapted for use with lifting trucks.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a pallet or skid for use with lifting trucks andhaving removable side walls thereby adapting the pallet or skid for thehandling of small articles and preventing articles from falling orsliding off the top or platform.

Second, to provide a structure of this class having these advantages inwhich the side walls may be collapsed for shipment or storage andquickly erected and positioned on the top or platform.

Third, to provide a structure having these advantages which is simpleand economical in its parts and at the same time strong and durable.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed outin the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is il lustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a structure embodying the inventionwith the walls in erected position on the platform.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view looking from the left of Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the pallet or skid withthe walls removed.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in vertical section ona line corresponding to line 4-4 of Figs. 1 and 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing details of the topsecuring means taken on a line corresponding to line 55 of 2, the partsof the latch and keeper being shown in disengaged position by dottedlines.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated comprises a grid-like top orplatform designated generally by the numeral I and comprising an upperseries of parallel slats 2 and a lower series of parallel slats 3, theseslats being disposed in crossing relation and welded together at theircrossing points as is indicated at 4.

In the structure illustrated the slats are formed of wire or light rodand the top is provided with border members 5 and B of somewhat heavierstock. The top is reinforced and further supported by top bars 1arranged in spaced pairs.

Pairs of bottom or base bars 8 are disposed in spaced parallel relationand in a planebelow the top bars as shown in Fig. 4.

U-shaped leg members 9 are provided, the upper ends of these legmembersbeing .welded to the bars I as indicated at 10 while the bights of theleg members are superimposed on the base bars 8 and welded thereto asindicated at H.

Sheet metal cross bars or transverse bars l2 extend between the innerbars 8 of the pairs and are welded thereto as indicated at 13. The ends[4 of the base bars 8 are bent inwardly and welded to the adjacentU-shaped leg members as in- 2 dicated at 15. The base and top are thussupported in spaced relation so that the forks of a lifting truck may beinserted below the platform and above the base.

I provide side walls designated generally by the numeral {5. These sidewalls in the preferred embodiment illustrated are grid-like and are madeup of horizontal slats l1 and vertical slats l8 welded together at theircrossing points. 0pposed side walls are provided with somewhat heaviervertical slats 19 which are extended to provide stake socket engagingstakes 20-see Fig. l. Tubular stake sockets 2| are mounted on theplatform and its supporting base, being welded at 22 to the outer of thepairs of rods 1 and at 23 to the outer of the base rods 8.

The side walls are swingably and pivotally connected in pairs by meansof coiled springs 24 which encircle the adjacent end slats of a pair ofwalls. The swinging ends of one wall of each pair are provided withdownwardly facing hooks 25 engageable with certain of the horizontalslats at the adjacent swinging end of the wall of the other pair.Preferably there are a plurality of these hooks, three being used in theembodiment illustrated. With this arrangement, the walls may be quicklyset up and mounted on the'top.

It is for certain uses desirable to latch the side walls to the platformand I provide latches 26 which are pivotally mounted on the border slats5 of the top and adapted to be engaged with horizontal slats of thecorresponding side walls, as is shown in Fig. 5.

To retain the latches in engagement, keepers 21 are slidably mounted onvertical slats of the side wall to be slipped over the ends of thelatches when they are in erected position, as shown in Fig. 5. Thisprovides a simple and effective means for anchoring the side walls tothe top, at the same time permits the releasing of the side walls asoccasion may require.

There are conditions in which the side walls are desirable-for example,when the pallets or skids are used in the shipment of small articles theshocks incident to transportation may shift the load, sometimesresulting in the very serious damage to the load. In other cases, it isdesired simply to throw or place the articles on the pallet or skidwithout care in the arrangementfor example in factories and the like. Ineither case, it is frequently desirable to remove the side walls eitherfor convenience in unloading the skid or for storage. The embodiment ofthe invention meets these various conditions.

I have not attempted to illustrate or describe various other embodimentsor adaptations which I contemplate as it is believed that thisdisclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt theinvention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a pallet or skid, the combination of a top or platform, stakesockets fixedly secured to said top to move as a unit therewith, sidewalls detachably mounted on said top and comprising vertical andhorizontal slats, said side walls being swingably connected in pairs topermit collapsing thereof, the swinging end of one wall of eachconnected pair being provided with means detachably engageable with theswinging end of the adjacent wall of the other pair, corresponding wallsof each pair being provided with downwardly projecting stakes fixed tosaid walls to move as a unit therewith and removably engageable withsaid stake sockets, and latches swingably mounted on the opposed edgesof the top and engageable over the tops of the horizontal slats of thecorresponding side walls to lock the side walls against verticaldisengagement from the top, said side walls being provided with keepersencircling and slidabl'y engageable with the vertical slats thereof andengageable with said latches when they are in engaged position.

2. In a pallet or skid, the combination of a top or platform, stakesockets fixedly connected to said top to move as a unit therewith, sidewalls provided with horizontal slats, vertical slats and downwardlyprojecting stakes fixed to said walls to move as a unit therewith andremovably engageable with said stake sockets, and latches for detachablyconnecting said opposed side walls to the top after insertion-of thestakes in the stake sockets, said latches releasably engaging thehorizontal slats of the side walls, and keepers slidably engageable withthe vertical slats of the side walls for releasably holding the latchesin engagement with said horizontal slats; V

3. In a pallet or skid the combination of a top or platform, a baseincluding bars spaced vertically from said top, vertical tubular stakesockets of tubular stock extending between said top and said base barsand fixedly associated therewith, said base bars bracingly connectingthe lower ends of said tubular sockets, side walls mounted on said top,and means for detachably connecting said side walls to said topcomprising stakes fixed thereto to move as a unit therewith andprojecting downwardly from the side walls and removably engageable withsaid tubular sockets. I

4. In a pallet the combination of a top, a base spaced from said top,legs connecting-said base and top as a unit, the edges of the topprojecting horizontally beyond the edges of the base, upwardly facingstake sockets disposed. between the top and the base and fixedly securedto both 1 to constitute a unitary part thereof, side walls comprisingvertical and horizontal slats, said side walls being swingably connectedin pairs to permit the collapsing of the walls of the pairs upon eachother, the swinging end of one'wall of each connected pair beingprovided with means detachably engageable with the end of the adjacentwall of the other pair, corresponding walls of each pair being providedwith downwardly projecting stakes fixed to said walls to move as a unittherewith and removably engageable with said stake sockets, said stakesextending to the tops of the 'walls to which they are fixed andconstituting reinforcing members for said walls, the walls beingsupported by the stakes when the stakes are engaged with the stakesockets in inwardly spaced relation'to the corresponding edges of thetop, and coacting latches and keepers on said top and walls disposed forengagement and disengagement from the outer sides of. the walls whenthey are in erected position on the top and acting to releasably securethe walls to the top.

5. In-a pallet the combination of a top, a base spaced from said top,legs connecting said base and top as a unit, the edges of the topprojecting horizontally beyond the edges of the base, upwardly facingstake sockets disposed between the top and the base and fixedly securedto both to constitute a unitary part thereof, side wallscomprising'vertica-l and horizontal slats, said side walls beingswingably connected in pairs to permit the collapsing of the walls ofthe pairs upon each other, the swinging end of one wall of eachconnected pair being provided with means detachably engageable with theend of the adjacent wall of the other-pair, corresponding walls of eachpair being provided with downwardly projecting stakes fixed to saidwalls to move as a unit therewith and removably engageable with saidstake sockets, and coacting latches and keepers on said top and wallsdisposed for manipulemon for engagement and disengagement from the outersides of the walls whenthey are in erected position on the top andacting to releasably secure the walls to the top.

6. In a pallet the combination of a top, a base spaced from said top,legs connecting said base and 'top as a unit, the edges of the topprojecting horizontally beyond the edges of the base, upwardly facingstake. sockets disposed between the top and the base and fixedly securedto both to constitute a unitary part thereof, side walls comprisingvertical and horizontal slats, said side walls being swingably connectedin pairs to permit the collapsing of the walls of the pairs upon eachother, the swinging end of one wall of each connected pair beingprovided with means detachably engageable with the end of the ad: jacentwall of the other pair, corresponding walls of each pair being providedwith downwardly projecting stakes fixed to said walls to move as a unittherewith and removably engageable with said stake sockets, said stakesextending to the tops of the Walls to which they are fixed andconstituting reinforcing members for said walls.

7. In a pallet the combination of a top,- a base spaced from said top,legs disposed between and connecting said base and top, upwardly facingstake sockets disposed between the top and the base to constitute aunitary part thereof, said side walls being swingably connected in pairsto permit the collapsing of the walls of the pairs upon each other, theswinging end of one wall of each connected pair being provided withmeans detachably engageable with the adjacent wall of the other. pair,corresponding walls of each pair. being provided with downwardlyprojecting stakes fixed to said walls to move as a unit therewith andremovably engageable with said stake sockets, and means disposed formanipulation from the outer sides of the walls for detachably securingthe walls to the top when the stakes are engaged in the sockets.

DEWEY H. BITNEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 609,612 Deveau Aug. 23, 18981,023,617 Botteese Apr. 16, 1912 1,881,822 McKelligon Oct. 11, 19321,944,845 Rickwood Jan. 23 1934 2,430,267 Arthur Nov. 4, 1947 ,463,587Arthur Mar. 8, 1949

